MARSHSIDE RSPB

Mike Berry · Status: Offline

RE: MARSHSIDE RSPB

Simon Gough · Status: Offline

A visit today with Steve Burke, walked over from Southport Pier. Before we headed to Marshside we noticed a lot of waders on the shore in the Weld Road direction. We didn't get too close but there were at least 2-3000 birds, 90% Knot but with plenty of Sanderling and Dunlin mixed in. It was like a grey carpet on the beach.

More Ringed Plovers on the north side of the pier, some Shelduck, Linnets, Egrets, Redshank etc. Tide was in, so when we got to Nel's Hide there were 500+ Golden Plover roosting on there with a few hundred Black-tailed Godwit for company. 3 Avocet, assorted winter ducks still lingering, 3 Ruff and 2 Little Grebe right in front of the hide.

At Sandgrounders there were 25 or so Avocet visible in the distance, other than that mainly excitable Black-headed Gulls. It was pretty quiet on the reserve, although there were plenty of different species on show.

To be honest, the best thing about today was the sunshine and the combination of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits singing and displaying along the seafront marsh. We had a constant soundtrack the whole way up and down the front, it was so mellow. We got some nice views of Ringed Plover on the walk back too, with a couple of Dunlin still in winter plumage with them. Just shows that a marquee bird isn't really essential to enjoy a day trip to somewhere, just the 'normal' collection of species will do.

sid ashton · Status: Offline

Jonathan Platt wrote:
Richard Thew wrote:
Thanks for the extra info sid I'd thought I'd also mention here that I decided to send them an email anyway to them to make them aware that there could be a problem to visitors expecting the avocets settling down outside the hide and not knowing that any previous work was done (or perhaps work still being carried out). Ta!!
Marshside is a nature reserve and, as such, is managed. I'm sure the work that's been done is essential (think it might be to clear silted channels) and has been done at a time to cause the least disturbance possible. We should, perhaps, remember that reserves are there to serve the birds, we are simply spectators. I think there are record counts of Avocets at Marshside this spring - they must be doing something right

Jonathan I have sent you a PM.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Richard Thew wrote:

Thanks for the extra info sid I'd thought I'd also mention here that I decided to send them an email anyway to them to make them aware that there could be a problem to visitors expecting the avocets settling down outside the hide and not knowing that any previous work was done (or perhaps work still being carried out). Ta!!

Marshside is a nature reserve and, as such, is managed. I'm sure the work that's been done is essential (think it might be to clear silted channels) and has been done at a time to cause the least disturbance possible. We should, perhaps, remember that reserves are there to serve the birds, we are simply spectators. I think there are record counts of Avocets at Marshside this spring - they must be doing something right smile

Richard Thew · Status: Offline

Thanks for the extra info sid

I'd thought I'd also mention here that I decided to send them an email anyway to them to make them aware that there could be a problem to visitors expecting the avocets settling down outside the hide and not knowing that any previous work was done (or perhaps work still being carried out). Ta!!

Ps. They have worked nice and hard with what they do but, this was only about the miss-leading information and no update on essential conservation work thats on their web page. Many thanks.

-- Edited by Richard Thew on Friday 3rd of April 2015 11:34:13 AM

sid ashton · Status: Offline

Richard Thew wrote:

Went in the expectation that (according to the rspb site for marshside) the avocets were super close to the sandgrousers hide as they have been on previous years. So imagine my shock to walk in there and find no birds but mostly a muddy mess due to some work that had been done on it . Main highlights from the other hide was a little grebe very close, a few ruffs developing their breeding plumage, a common redshank pair mating, at least 200 black tailed godwits with 50 avocets a little way out and a close encounter of a skylark. By lunch, I had enough and took of to martin mere for the rest of the day....

Richard I called in at the Sandgrounders hide yesterday on my way into Southport late morning and again on the way home later in the afternoon. I agree completely with your comment about the muddy mess but at least on the afternoon visit there were 6 Avocets very close to the hide. However, just like the Little Egret that was present in the morning they were under attack from the numerous Black-headed Gulls that seem to have establised a colony close by - so I wouldn't bet on the Avocets setting up home near the hide this year.

Richard Thew · Status: Offline

Went in the expectation that (according to the rspb site for marshside) the avocets were super close to the sandgrousers hide as they have been on previous years. So imagine my shock to walk in there and find no birds but mostly a muddy mess due to some work that had been done on it

. Main highlights from the other hide was a little grebe very close, a few ruffs developing their breeding plumage, a common redshank pair mating, at least 200 black tailed godwits with 50 avocets a little way out and a close encounter of a skylark. By lunch, I had enough and took of to martin mere for the rest of the day....

Jon Bowen · Status: Offline

Late post from yesterday.

3 hours covering most of the site produced the following

3 Merlin ( inc one spooking the pigeons
Peregrine Falcon on a kill out on the marsh
94 Avocet
5 Mediterranean Gulls ( inc a colour ringed bird and a 1st winter)
Water Pipit ( Crossens Outmarsh)
Good numbers of wildfowl still with Pintail, Tufted Duck, Gadwell, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler
Little Grebe
Pink Footed Goose in decent numbers on the marshes
13 Whooper Swans

-- Edited by Jon Bowen on Sunday 29th of March 2015 05:10:54 PM

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Originally posted yesterday by Mike Berry:

49 species in under two hours: 12.00-1.45
Highlight was 25 Avocets

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Originally posted today by Mike Berry:

From Nell's hide:
Mediterranean Gull
Skylarks singing
5 Little Egrets

Paul Richardson · Status: Offline

Walked round the northern half of the reserve this morning after dipping on any Bewick's or Whooper Swans at Hundred End earlier on (and later!).

On the reserve -

Uncountable numbers of Wigeon - goes without saying really.
Also large groups of Lapwing
mixed in with Golden Plover
Lesser number of Black Tailed Godwit

Shoveler
Pintail
Shelduck
Mallard
Jackdaw
Carrion Crow
Starling
Pied Wagtail
1 Little Egret
Curlew
Pink-footed Geese

Crossen's Marsh

7 Little Egret
1 Great White Egret
1 Male Sparrowhawk
Shelduck
Mallard
Pink-footed Geese
Several Canada Geese over

On the sports field of the school east of the reserve

60 Curlew
9 Black Tailed Godwit
numerous starlings
all feeding voraciously on the mown turf - must be a good source of worms! A slightly surreal sight really.

Jon Bowen · Status: Offline

Old Sandworks looking not the marsh
2 Great White Egrets
10+ Little Egrets
3 Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Kestrel
Common Buzzard
Raven
From the hide
Ross's Goose (plastis??)
Pintail
Shoveler
Sparrowhawk
Plus the usuals

John Williams · Status: Offline

11-00-15.00

Old Sand Works area

A flock of 15 Reed Buntings, a mixed flock of 7 Linnets + 9 Goldfinches, also 4 Skylarks and 3 Song Thrushes.

Saltmarsh

2 Great White Egrets, 10 Little Egrets, 2f Sparrowhawks, 1 Buzzard, 12 Curlew and 1m+1f Kestrels.

Also masses of Pink Footed Geese with lesser numbers of Canada Geese.

Crossens Inner/Sandgrounders

The Ross's Goose is moving around with a group of Mallard. I counted a flock of 580 Black Tailed Godwits, but then realised there were

many more mixed in with the mass of Wigeon and Teal.

Nels Hide/ Junction Pool

Again masses of Teal, Wigeon and Black Tailed Godwits, but also here lots of Shoveler and Pintails too.

Also 15 Redshanks and 11 Snipe. At one point a female Sparrowhawk flushed everything, although they all settled again after she had passed.

Hesketh Road Platform

4 Black Tailed Godwits, 2 Curlews plus more Wigeon and Teal.

John Williams · Status: Offline

11.00-15.00

1 male Hen Harrier chasing a group of Redshanks over the saltmarsh, although he did'nt catch one.

Also on the saltmarsh, 2 Buzzards, 1 female Sparrowhawk, 10 Little Egrets plus lots of Pink Footed Geese and Skylarks.

Old Sand Works

1 male Stonechat, 1 Mistle Thrush, a group of 4 Reed Buntings, and as on the marsh, lots of Skylarks, I stood still for a while

and they landed just a couple of feet away.

Sandgrounders

1 Great Black Backed Gull, 12 Curlew plus lots of Wigeon etc.

Junction Pool

7 drake Pintail

Nels

10 drake Pintail and 2 Kestrels.

The Hesketh Road platform is worth a visit again, the area completely dried out over the summer, but now a small pool as appeared again

and as attracted Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Pink Footed Geese plus a couple of Curlew.

steven burke · Status: Offline

a walk along the beach as the tide came in, waders inc...

oystercatcher
knot
dunlin
redshank
grey plover
golden plover
lapwing
curlew
majority of the smaller birds on the marsh were skylark with few meadow pipit
60+ linnet
3 greenfinch
hundreds of shelduck & lots of wigeon were flying onto the sea.
there was also a fishermans net on the beach with a lot of dead dogfish in it, not a very pleasant sight & smell bleh

nels hide..

1200+ black tailed godwit nice & close so great viewing, with only 1 redshank amongst them
several lapwing
big numbers of teal & wigeon
few shoveler & pintail

sandgrousers hide.. 1 teal hmm

crossens outer marsh...

huge numbers of pink footed goose with lots more coming in at dusk.
21 little egret
no raptors.

1 stoat

John Williams · Status: Offline

10.30-13.00

Sandgrounders area

6 Avocets, 7 Curlew, 20 Little Egrets, 3 Black Tailed Godwits plus the usual waterfowl.

Nels Hide

390 Pink Footed Geese, 20 Black Tailed Godwits and 1(m) Kestrel.

Teal, Mallard and Wigeon are back en-masse, with lesser numbers of Gadwall and Shoveler.

There was a steady trickle of Swallows, all flying SE, throughout.

Goldfinches were very abundant on the old sand works, I tried to count them but gave up as charms erupted from every clump of vegetation.

Only a tiny pool remains in front of the Hesketh Rd viewing area, with a few Moorhens & Jackdaws on the drying mud.

Andrew Mitchell · Status: Offline

Quick half hour yesterday at Sandgrounders:

1 Avocet right in front of the hide, but limping badly with an injured foot
3 Snipe giving superb views
A large flock of Black Tailed Godwit, a couple of which landed right in front of the hide at one point
1 Dunlin
3 Little Egret
6 Tufted Duck
A large charm of Goldfinches
A few flocks of Lapwing

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

Day at Marshide with Tony Darby. A day when it really delivered

On the shoreline an hour after high tide:
Dunlin 1,000+
Ringed Plover 500+
Grey Plover 7 including one in full breeding plumage
Cormorant 53
Great Black-backed Gulls 4
Lesser Black-backed Gulls 20

Nel's Hide:
Garganey 2 drakes
Pintail pair
Wigeon 2
Shoveler 1
Gadwall 7
Tufted duck failed to count
Greylag 2 with 2 goslings
Curlew Sandpiper 1 coming into breeding plumage
Ruff 1 male in full breeding plumage with black head, orange ruff and white belly with large black patches - absolutely stunning. Never seen one in full regalia before only partial breeding plumage
Avocet 6
Black-tailed Godwit 39 many in breeding plumage
Redshank 6
Lapwing 6
Oystercatcher 2
Reed Warbler 2 in front of the hide

Sandgrounder's Hide area:
Sedge Warbler 1
Swallows nesting
Whitethroat 2

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Chris Greene wrote:

Stunning leucist/albinistic ?? Sedge warbler currently showing unbelivebly well about 60 yards down marshside road. Cheers Chris

Leucistic Chris smile

Chris Greene · Status: Offline

Stunning leucist/albinistic ?? Sedge warbler currently showing unbelivebly well about 60 yards down marshside road. Cheers Chris

sid ashton · Status: Offline

Visiting family in Southport today called in at Sandgrounders hide for a short time - of note several Avocets, Dunlin, Swifts, House Martins and a Ruff in very bright breeding plumage.

John Doherty · Status: Offline

Today's annual Spring visit

Beach - loads of Dunlins and several Ringed Plovers

Nel's -3 Avocet
Sandgrounders - 2 Avocet, some Redshanks, Black Tailed Godwits, Oystercatchers

Several Reed Warblers were singing with one showing briefly, plus Sedge singing and plenty of Whitethroat; 2 Chiffchaffs were singing from the golf course.

At Junction Pool the Long Tailed Duck was present, showing well, as well as a Little Grebe.

From there I could see clouds of waders on the beach, probably Knots.
A Shoveler pair were present
Also, two Hares on the reserve,

plus lots of the usual...

Jon Bowen · Status: Offline

Couple of hours around lunch time today mainly around Hesketh Road and walking along the original sea wall that bisects the golf course

39 Ruff including stunning black male
Great White Egret (young bird) spending time in front of Nells Hide
Long Tailed Duck still from Junction Pool
Whinchat, in dip at the corner of Hesketh Road
Sedge Warbler
Whitethroat
Blackcap
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Wheatear
still Teal, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Shoveler, Shelduck, Gadwall in varying numbers
Little Grebe
Sand Martin, Swallow
Linnet
Greylags and Moorhen with young

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

Down on the beach at 5pm just where the salt marsh peters out:
2,000 Dunlin
60 Ringed Plover
1 summer plumage Grey Plover
and all to myself - not another human being or dog as far as the scope could see just cars moving on the coast road in the distance. A sublime birding moment :)

Tanmay Dixit · Status: Offline

quick visit yesterday in lovely weather:

Avocets (14+)
Black-tailed godwit (many)
100+ golden plover from Nell's
Little gull flew into Nell's (presumably off the sea) and was present until I left at about 3pm. It was feeding actively like a tern and constantly harassed by BH and LBB gulls.
Ruff (5+)
redshank
All common wildfowl including 2 pairs of pintail
lots of meadow pipit and skylark
1st hirundine of the year - 1 swallow over car park
Spent most of my time searching for the Long-Tailed duck at Nell's, but as I was leaving saw Simon Smethurst (nice to meet you again) at the screen just opposite the car park, who was on the LT duck. Thanks for the lifer Simon! It was diving continuously allowing extremely brief views but at least it seems to be feeding well.

lots of insects on the wing was both lovely and irritating (in the case of midges) so let's hope for a bumper breeding year! smile

Louise Aspden · Status: Offline

I had a quick visit to Marshside today to see avocets, the Long tailed duck was pointed out to me in the pool in front of Nel's hide.

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

Pair of Garganey this evening, at the south end of the reserve near Fairclough's Pool but viewed from Nells.

M Gannon · Status: Offline

Visited this site for the first time today. Managed to see:

Long tailed duck (female)
Barnacle goose
Pink footed geese-2500
Greylag goose-2
Pintail-3
Tufted duck-50
Shelduck-100
Shoveler-20
Teal-100
Wigeon-30
Avocet-30
Ruff-3
Black tailed godwit-50
Snipe
Dunlin-300
Little egret-2
Comorant

smile

steven burke · Status: Offline

46 species seen, with phil Kelly.

35 avocets
1 Mediterranean gull
1 ross's goose
1 barnacle goose
hundreds of pink footed geese
8 little egrets
good numbers of teal, wigeon, pintails, black tailed godwits, lapwings & golden plovers.
1 hen harrier, male
1 peregrine falcon
1 merlin
could not find the long tailed duck.
plus all the usuals around.

good day out in lovely weather, thanks again phil.

Dave Higginson-Tranter · Status: Offline

48 species - Skylark; Goldfinch; Meadow Pipit; Shelduck; Wood Pigeon; Magpie; Black Headed Gull; Black Tailed Godwit; Lapwing; Cormorant; Blackbird; Pink Footed Goose; Starling; Coot; Peregrine Falcon; Wigeon; Teal; Shoveler; Great Black Backed Gull; Tufted Duck; Carrion Crow; Mallard; Jackdaw; Redshank; Herring Gull; House Sparrow; Oystercatcher; Lesser Black Backed Gull; Great Tit; Curlew; Pintail; Ruff; Pied Wagtail; Song Thrush; Common Gull; Greenfinch; Chaffinch; Canada Goose; Moorhen; Pheasant; Mute Swan; Pochard; Greylag Goose; Golden Plover; Little Egret; Little Grebe + Robin and Blue Tit on call.

Fungalpunk Dave - www.fungalpunknature.co.uk

Bernard McGurrin · Status: Offline

pleasant afternoons birding in good sunshine
long tailed duck from junction pool screen, pintail, wigeon, loads of shelduck, at least 5 little egret, great white egret from sandgrounders hide, loads of black tailed godwit, curlew, golden plover,dunlin, knot, pink footed geese, grey lag geese, canada geese,
tried the marine lake for the great northern diver but dipped on that one.

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

9.30-11.00:
Long Tailed Duck from viewing screen near main car park
Peregrine Falcon
100's of Black Tailed Godwit, Golden Plover, Lapwing
Merlin
Snipe
5 Little Egret
Great White Egret north of Sandgrounders hide
Drake Pintail

Terry Long · Status: Offline

Ok thanks Phil

PHIL GREENWOOD · Status: Offline

Thursday, January 30th.

Plenty of stuff such as Black-tailed Godwits, Curlews, Pinkfeet Geese, 3 Little Egrets, Pintails, Wigeons, Teal, etc.etc.

However, no sign of the LT Duck.

Terry Long · Status: Offline

Does anybody know if the long-tailed duck is still about?

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Yes same here Dave, first Ross's Goose and Baikal Teal I've ever had in the wild so I'm sticking with my view, both cracking birds.
Cheers

Davidcaron62 · Status: Offline

Cheers Rob

Yes I understand that. I am not much of a purist myself. I like to see birds and record what I see. It was a first time spot for me whether, domestic, hybrid or wild and as such pleasant to see.

Regards

Dave

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Hi David,
This always happens with certain species of Goose and Duck. Martyn is correct because some doubt always creeps in about escaped birds, hybrids, and 'of domestic origin' birds, and as far as the Ross's Goose goes, some birders think it's the real deal whilst others don't. My own opinion is that it is a true Ross's Goose, from what I saw of the bird anyway.
The same happened with the drake Baikal Teal some weeks ago. Some questioned its credentials, others then reviewed it and eventually deemed it to be of wild origin, I myself thought it was good for a wild one.
But I'm not the one who ultimately makes that decision, there are people who can make that decision though. Until that decision is made by the experts, quite often you're own opinion is the one that counts.
I hope you've understood that.
Cheers
Rob smile

Davidcaron62 · Status: Offline

Hi Martyn

Thanks for the explanation. I think that did form part of what he told me but I was so taken up with the spotting scope (First time I've used one

) I missed it. I think he also stated that there were a few about. Only saw the one here but there were possibly anthor two at Hesketh Out Marsh a little further up the coast. Mallard sized, hanging around with Mallards and one had the black wing tips.
Regards

Dave

Martyn Jones · Status: Offline

Davidcaron62 wrote:

26th January 2014

Also saw what the warden identified as a Ross Goose. However he did qualify this by saying it was disputed by some purist. What this meant I have no idea but who am I to argue with the might of the RSPB.

I think he meant it was probably an escapee rather than a truly wild bird David, and that it might additionally be a hybrid. The Ross's goose is a North American species not usually seen these parts.

-- Edited by Martyn Jones on Sunday 26th of January 2014 10:18:08 PM

Davidcaron62 · Status: Offline

26th January 2014

11am until 2pm.

What a wet and windy morning

. And what better place to be than in a warmish RSPB hide with like minded folk.

Black-tailed Godwit
Canada Goose
Coot
Cormorant
Gadwall
Great Black-backed Gull
Greylag Goose
Herring Gull
Lapwing
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Mallard
Mute Swan
Pintail
Shelduck
Shoveler
Starling
Teal
Tufted Duck
Wigeon

Also saw what the warden identified as a Ross Goose. However he did qualify this by saying it was disputed by some purist. What this meant I have no idea confuse

but who am I to argue with the might of the RSPB.

All in all a great day out with many thanks to the warden for making me feel so welcome and assisting me with identification, knowledge of the area and use of the spotting scope. This may not be a flag ship site but I had as good a day out as I have had at other more established reserves.

Dave

Mark Burgess · Status: Offline

1.30 - 3.00 highlights

Long Tailed Duck
Pintail x 100's
Wigeon x100's
Pink Footed Geese x 100's
Barnacle Goose associating with a small flock of Canada Geese
Huge number of Black Tailed Godwit several 1000

Jon Bowen · Status: Offline

Visited yesterday afternoon after a trip to Martin Mere the outer marsh still flooded following high tide

Excellent numbers of birds about especially at junction pool. Highlights

Ross's Goose (?) very close views from Sandgrounder's Hide

Long Tailed Duck

Merlin

Golden Plover

Dunlin

Knot

Barnacle Goose

Black Tailed Godwit

Laurence Hopkins · Status: Offline

Thanks Jonathan, i'll try my luck tomorrow!

Jonathan Platt · Status: Offline

I don't think the Baikal's been seen for a couple of weeks now, but there's at least one Great White Egret still being seen regularly, usually on the outer marsh. Yesterday there were 30+ Barnacle Geese from Sandgrounders, a couple of Peregrines, several Ruff and lots of Black-tailed Godwits, Wigeon, Teal and Golden Plover. Plus a Great Northern Diver on the Marine Lake!

Laurence Hopkins · Status: Offline

Has there been any recent sightings of the Baikal Teal or the Great White Egret? blankstare

Mike Chorley · Status: Offline

Rob Creek wrote:

Mike Chorley wrote:

After a late lunch in Sandgrounders watching a Peregrine spooking the waterfowl we headed down to the Marine Lake for the Egret roost. 63 Little Egrets and 1 Great White Egret had come in by the time we set off home. A modest total of 47 species for the day but some good birds none-the-less. Good numbers of Golden Plover & Black-tailed Godwit and impressive numbers of Shelduck and Cormorant on the sea.

I don't know how it fits in with other sightings of the Baikal Teal, but the bird was found today with Wigeon (none of which were on the Outer Marsh when we arrived) and its' disappearance last Monday afternoon coincided with the departure of the Wigeon from the usual channel when all the wildfowl were flushed, so anyone still looking for it may do well to seek out the Wigeon.

-- Edited by Mike Chorley on Sunday 8th of December 2013 10:13:17 PM

Hi Mike,
When I arrived at lunchtime, I actually parked up at Crossens Outer Marsh and made the correct decision to ask some birders if the Baikal Teal was still showing well, to which they replied "yes mate but you're in the wrong place, it's been on the inner marsh all morning and is still there now" so from that comment I knew it hadn't been at the Outer Marsh and I drove round there to the Inner Marsh.

You're Peregrinne sighting totally fits in with ours as we watched the Baikal get flushed by the raptor, whereas you would only have seen a shed load of Wigeon take to the air from where you were...
...and you're comment about it favouring to stick with the Wigeon is also correct, and I heard a few birders say that today. Despite it being a Teal (and incidently has the vertical white bar of the Green Winged Teal) it is actually a bit larger on average than the Eurasian and Green Winged Teal and I think this factor could explain to some degree why it prefers to be with Wigeon, Mallard, and the Pintail. It probably feels that much safer with larger species by its side.
Cheers
Rob

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 9th of December 2013 03:10:04 PM

Hi Rob, we didn't actually see it flush the Wigeon, it was operating well over to our left over the area next to the road when we were watching it. From Sandgrounders we could see the birders on the embanked path but not the birds on the deck. As Gordon has commented, both the Teal (if genuine) and some of the wintering Wigeon come from the same area of Russia, so it probably came with them and is hanging around with its' travelling companions. Another plus point for it being the real deal.

-- Edited by Mike Chorley on Monday 9th of December 2013 09:23:33 PM

Gordon Taylor · Status: Offline

Regarding the Baikal Teal.
The bird has been compared with male that was transferred from Castle Espie WWT to Martin Mere very recently. This bird hatched this Spring and shows very similar plumage development. Young males acquire the full adult head pattern in their second calendar year. Wigeon migrate to the Ribble Estuary from a similar direction to that which a vagrant Baikal Teal would come from. I am assured by experts that there is no reason to doubt the birds wild origins.

Mark Burgess · Status: Offline

9.15 - 15.00, 35 species seen highlights.

Baikal Teal on the inner marsh, As suggested below associating with Wigeon
Long Tailed Duck
Pintail
Merlin on the outer marsh perched on top of a large dead tree stump
Ruff
Pink Footed Geese 100's

-- Edited by Mark Burgess on Monday 9th of December 2013 05:42:55 PM

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Mike Chorley wrote:

After a late lunch in Sandgrounders watching a Peregrine spooking the waterfowl we headed down to the Marine Lake for the Egret roost. 63 Little Egrets and 1 Great White Egret had come in by the time we set off home. A modest total of 47 species for the day but some good birds none-the-less. Good numbers of Golden Plover & Black-tailed Godwit and impressive numbers of Shelduck and Cormorant on the sea.

I don't know how it fits in with other sightings of the Baikal Teal, but the bird was found today with Wigeon (none of which were on the Outer Marsh when we arrived) and its' disappearance last Monday afternoon coincided with the departure of the Wigeon from the usual channel when all the wildfowl were flushed, so anyone still looking for it may do well to seek out the Wigeon.

-- Edited by Mike Chorley on Sunday 8th of December 2013 10:13:17 PM

Hi Mike,
When I arrived at lunchtime, I actually parked up at Crossens Outer Marsh and made the correct decision to ask some birders if the Baikal Teal was still showing well, to which they replied "yes mate but you're in the wrong place, it's been on the inner marsh all morning and is still there now" so from that comment I knew it hadn't been at the Outer Marsh and I drove round there to the Inner Marsh.

You're Peregrinne sighting totally fits in with ours as we watched the Baikal get flushed by the raptor, whereas you would only have seen a shed load of Wigeon take to the air from where you were...
...and you're comment about it favouring to stick with the Wigeon is also correct, and I heard a few birders say that today. Despite it being a Teal (and incidently has the vertical white bar of the Green Winged Teal) it is actually a bit larger on average than the Eurasian and Green Winged Teal and I think this factor could explain to some degree why it prefers to be with Wigeon, Mallard, and the Pintail. It probably feels that much safer with larger species by its side.
Cheers
Rob

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 9th of December 2013 03:10:04 PM